Last Modified: Sunday, February 24, 2013 at 5:56 p.m.

Marina Orlova, a former Soviet television reporter, hosts "Good Evening, North Port," a show for the city's Russian-speaking population on KDWRadio.com.

STAFF PHOTO / DALE WHITE

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"Good Evening, North Port," a program about local issues by Marina Orlova, can be heard at 9 p.m. Mondays on KDWRadio.com. Past shows are archived to be heard at any time.

"Good Evening, North Port" is not for them anyway.

Former Soviet television reporter Marina Orlova launched the hour-long program for the roughly 10 percent of North Port's population that speaks Russian — Ukrainians, Czechs, Lithuanians, Serbs and many other East European transplants who came to the city largely because of the reputation of Warm Mineral Springs.

"Many of them do not participate in city affairs" because they are not fluent in English, Orlova said.

The Feb. 11 premiere show on KDWRadio.com (the program is on the Internet, not the airwaves) attracted 365 listeners. For the second show, the audience doubled.

"I'm looking forward to it tripling, quadrupling," Orlova said.

The show has even gained audience members in Moscow, France, England and New Zealand.

Orlova brings experience and professionalism to the production, which she records and edits herself.

She worked as a reporter, documentary narrator and anchor woman for a Moscow television channel until she got out of the Soviet Union in 1992.

In the Soviet Union, she practiced "self-censorship" to avoid trouble with the Communist authorities.

She would not experience freedom of speech as a broadcaster until she went to work for a CBS affiliate in Seattle as a commentator and news analyst about Eastern Europe.

Orlova, who eventually managed to get her mother, daughter and granddaughter to join her in the United States as well, settled in Venice in 2008 — moving to the area because of the appeal of Warm Mineral Springs.

She pre-records interviews for her new show and then edits the material in the studio, often using music from her homeland in the intervals between the talk.

So far, her interview subjects, whose comments she translates, include City Commissioner Jim Blucher, community activist Beth Mayberry and the owners of a new business, Tony's Produce.

The City Commission's decision to sell its half-interest in Warm Mineral Springs has been the show's recurring hot topic. Many people in the city's East European population were unaware of it, Orlova said.

"They're panicking" because they are worried the Springs may close, Orlova said.

Although she may not take sides on some of the issues she will raise on the program, Orlova is adamant that the City Commission majority made a hasty decision to sell the springs.

Orlova continues to line up interview subjects and hopes the show will help North Port's immigrant population feel less disenfranchised and more a part of overall city life.

"This is community radio," Orlova said. "My goal is to bring the community together."

<p><em>NORTH PORT</em> - Even though the topics may interest them, most residents of North Port are unlikely to join the audience for a new weekly show about their city, its people and its issues.</p><p>"Good Evening, North Port" is not for them anyway.</p><p>Former Soviet television reporter Marina Orlova launched the hour-long program for the roughly 10 percent of North Port's population that speaks Russian — Ukrainians, Czechs, Lithuanians, Serbs and many other East European transplants who came to the city largely because of the reputation of Warm Mineral Springs.</p><p>"Many of them do not participate in city affairs" because they are not fluent in English, Orlova said.</p><p>The Feb. 11 premiere show on KDWRadio.com (the program is on the Internet, not the airwaves) attracted 365 listeners. For the second show, the audience doubled.</p><p>"I'm looking forward to it tripling, quadrupling," Orlova said.</p><p>The show has even gained audience members in Moscow, France, England and New Zealand.</p><p>Orlova brings experience and professionalism to the production, which she records and edits herself.</p><p>She worked as a reporter, documentary narrator and anchor woman for a Moscow television channel until she got out of the Soviet Union in 1992.</p><p>In the Soviet Union, she practiced "self-censorship" to avoid trouble with the Communist authorities.</p><p>She would not experience freedom of speech as a broadcaster until she went to work for a CBS affiliate in Seattle as a commentator and news analyst about Eastern Europe.</p><p>Orlova, who eventually managed to get her mother, daughter and granddaughter to join her in the United States as well, settled in Venice in 2008 — moving to the area because of the appeal of Warm Mineral Springs.</p><p>She pre-records interviews for her new show and then edits the material in the studio, often using music from her homeland in the intervals between the talk.</p><p>So far, her interview subjects, whose comments she translates, include City Commissioner Jim Blucher, community activist Beth Mayberry and the owners of a new business, Tony's Produce.</p><p>The City Commission's decision to sell its half-interest in Warm Mineral Springs has been the show's recurring hot topic. Many people in the city's East European population were unaware of it, Orlova said.</p><p>"They're panicking" because they are worried the Springs may close, Orlova said.</p><p>Although she may not take sides on some of the issues she will raise on the program, Orlova is adamant that the City Commission majority made a hasty decision to sell the springs.</p><p>Orlova continues to line up interview subjects and hopes the show will help North Port's immigrant population feel less disenfranchised and more a part of overall city life.</p><p>"This is community radio," Orlova said. "My goal is to bring the community together."</p>